The quiet community of Hurley’s Close, Boscobel, St. Peter, joined in celebrating with Mrs. Rita Small, who turned 100 on July 10, 2023.
The mood was further heightened with the arrival of the President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.
Mrs. Small shared that even though she did not expect to reach 100, it was happiness and prayer that helped her to live a long life, and she was happy to reach the milestone because “many of us don’t live so long”.
Her daughter, Cheryl Boyce, who helps to look after her, shared that growing up the centenarian wore bangles on her hand as she does today, adding “if I was doing anything wrong, I would know, well, she is coming but she didn’t know that”.
She noted that her mother was strong and caring and after losing her leg 22 years ago because of diabetes, she was able to “help herself 100 per cent”.
Hallam Small said his mother was a disciplinarian and she looked out for others in the community, especially those with special needs. He said he was very pleased to see how she taught herself to play the piano, stating “my mother always loved music…at age 85 she taught herself music”.
Mrs. Small’s nephew and godson, King’s Counsel, Lewis Hunte, spoke highly of the centenarian, noting that “she is the matriarch of the family”.
The centenarian, also known as “Aunt Rit”, even by her children, was born and raised in Boscobel, St. Peter, and regularly attended St. Philip-the-Less Anglican Church, in the same parish.
She was educated at Boscobel Girls’ School, where she received a sewing kit, which she told Dame Sandra was because “I was the best behaved girl at school and I got a prize for it”.
After leaving school, Mrs. Small, who was the youngest of nine children, stayed at home to help her sisters take care of their children and opted to raise chickens and pigs to help support the family.
The centenarian was married to the late Grenville Small, a postman. She remained at home to raise her children, and looked after her mother who became blind early in life. She has two children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. Small’s favourite foods are ground provisions, rice, fish and ham, and her hobbies included baking, singing, horse racing, gardening, music, and reading.
Dame Sandra presented her with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine and a personalised card, which the centenarian read aloud.
Dame Sandra expressed gratitude for being a part of the day’s celebrations and noted that individuals such as the centenarian “need to be revered and praised”.
